Connected, personalized education
Small class sizes mean we make a personal connection with you. We get to know more than just your name. We learn who you are and where you want to go in life, and we connect you to opportunities that help you get there.
At VIU you don’t have to choose between learning for the love of it and a career goal. You get both. We focus on teaching and research, which sets us apart. It means you gain the practical skills and the in-depth knowledge to stand out in academia and in the workplace.
Vancouver Island is where the world comes to connect with nature. Our main campus in Nanaimo is minutes away from scenic trails and a few hours away from all the iconic Vancouver Island attractions. And you can enjoy the outdoors all year.
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120+ Programs
100, 000+ alumni
Canada’s mildest climate
Small class size, big opportunity
Small class sizes allow us to give you more hands-on experience and more opportunities to put your learning into action.
“Even though VIU is a smaller university, the level of instruction is world-class. We had a ton of hands-on labs and field trips, things that just wouldn't be possible in larger institutions with big class sizes – especially through some of the Fisheries and Aquaculture courses. And I was gaining skills and experiences in my first and second years of undergrad that other students at bigger universities might not get to learn until their third or fourth years.”
– Brian Timmer
Read more about Brian’s Timmer's story
What we do
Support our people
Everyone at VIU wants to see you succeed, and we offer help along every step of your educational journey and beyond
Celebrate our place
We connect students with the community through, community-based research, internships, alumni network and more.
Build on your potential
Whether you join us as an undergrad, a trades student or for adult upgrading, our job is to help you get where you want to go in life.
Study where you can make an impact
Second-year Earth Sciences student Tess Weaver has a passion for water. After getting to know her, a VIU professor hired Tess to work on a VIU study of tire toxins in Vancouver Island streams. The job involved field experience sampling water. Tess never imagined she’d be doing field work in second year.
“That’s the unique thing about this university. In this project there’s a position for anyone who wants to be involved and who cares. This is a unique project where you have local community, Indigenous communities, and even us undergrads and grad students – interacting and networking. It’s a special project.”
Explore the VIU experience
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Contributing to growth on the Island and beyond
Since 1936, we’ve served Vancouver Island with programs and courses that help our community grow and prosper. VIU Trades programs prepare students to improve lives in their local communities as carpenters, mechanics, cooks and more. We help trades people earn Red Seal endorsements, ensuring that highly trained professionals serve our community.
VIU trades programs showcase career opportunities at two events this week
VIU in the news: April 27, 2025
VIU news and experts: April 24, 2025
Message from the Acting President: Update to the Community April 24, 2025
VIU Media Studies showcase on April 24 debuts student work
VIU trades programs showcase career opportunities at two events this week
VIU in the news: April 27, 2025
VIU news and experts: April 24, 2025
Three coastal campuses
Nanaimo
Our main campus on the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. An ocean-view campus spanning 92 acres.
Cowichan
On the traditional territory of Cowichan Tribes, the Cowichan campus includes a main campus building and the Cowichan Trades Centre.
tiwšɛmawtxʷ (Powell River)
Located in the traditional territory of the Tla’amin First Nation, tiwšɛmawtxʷ campus serves the qathet region of the Sunshine Coast.
VIU alumni make the world a better place
Our alumni are out in the world doing amazing things.
Misha Zvekic, one of the first students to graduate with VIU's Chemistry major is investigating the impacts of environmental contaminants like microplastics and “forever chemicals." They are working on a master’s degree in chemistry at the University of Victoria. They do their research at VIU’s Applied Environmental Research Laboratories. Building on research they began as an undergrad at with us, in 2022 they were the lead author of a research paper on the effect of light on microplastics that was published by the Royal Society of Chemistry.
And in 2024 they studied “forever chemicals” in a sixgill shark. Forever chemicals are persistent, man-made chemicals linked to human health issues. Micha looked at the transfer of chemicals from mother shark to offspring. Understanding this has potential to help us understand similar mechanisms in humans.
Where do you want to take your studies?
Connect with a VIU recruiter to find out how we can help you reach your goals